Emerald Winter

If it’s possible, Bogota is even more lush and verdant in December due to the thunderstorms every day and the sun every morning. It seems natural that a country so green would be famous for a green gem — emeralds.

There are many shops selling emeralds, both rough cut and polished. Most of the emerald store attendants will explain karat and clarity (I’m told that the deeper the green, the bigger the stone, the fewer flaws — the better). Apparently, this is the place to be to buy emeralds.